Face mask



June 16, 1959 1', MARlETTA 2,890,457

' FACE MASK Filed Feb. 20, 1956 INVENTOR M'c/zcre/ 2' Marie #0 United States Patent C FACE MASK Michael T. Marietta, Dallas County, Tex.

Application February 20, 1956, Serial No. 566,747

4 Claims. (Cl. 29)

The invention relates to face masks and more particularly to a mask for protecting the face of a person playing a game requiring such protection. The mask is intended to be worn in connection with a helmet and can be made of plastic material or of metal with plastic or rubber coating.

The main object of the invention is to provide an athletic headgear which can be put on and removed with ease. Another object of the invention is to provide a headgear of the type described in which blows to the mask are transmitted to the helmet and in which, therefore, padding may be omitted.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent as the invention is fully understood, the same resides in the combination, construction and arrangement of elements hereinafter specifically described and claimed in the subjoined claims.

The description should be read with reference to a drawing illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention and forming part of the application.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of the headgear embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation;

Fig. 3 a detail section;

Fig. 4 a front view of the headgear with the chinstrap detached from the helmet and mask.

In the drawing in which like characters of reference denote like or similar parts the helmet is shown as including ear covering, parts H, integral with the helmet, bulging outwardly of the adjacent helmet portions and apertured for receiving tubular screws A. These tubular screws are attaching means of mask to helmet and function as a hinge, permitting mask to be tilted forward. The same also pass through mask parts B each offset outwardly from the adjacent mask portion and connected thereto by a shoulder C. D is a flange extending from the inner end of the shoulder C and spaced from the inner side of a part B sufiiciently to permit the forward edge of a helmet part H to be received between mask parts C and D in a groove. The mask part connecting the side portions B is slotted and comprises tubular ribs the top one of which is denoted by B and is adapted to engage the lower edge of the forehead helmet part for putting on the helmet-mask or removing it. The top rib B of the mask part is curved upwardly a distance, causing its contact with the front part of the helmet, instead of the forehead, when mask is tilted upward from a blow loosening chin strap. Thus the mask member has means causing its engagement with the edge of the helmet when the mask is tilted to its extreme upward position. Figs. 1, 2 and 4 show two additional ribs G spaced from B and one another and a chin part F. The same is provided with openings E each receiving a lace or lacer which can be tied at the ends to surround a chin engaging strap K the intermediate part of which is wider than the end portions. Snap fastener members each adjustably mounted on a narrow end portion of the strap, coact with snap fastener members each fixed to an ear covering part H.

If one or both of the snap fastener members should become detached from its mate by a blow against the face mask, the same will tilt upwardly and engage the forehead portion of the helmet and transmit the blow thereto. If the snap fasteners stay in coaction with their mates, a blow on the mask will be transmitted to the helmet through the shoulder C and the cooperating front edge of an ear covering portion H.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new 1. In a face mask structure the combination comprising a helmet member having a face opening and including adjacent the opening ear covering portions, a pair of fastener elements each carried by one of the ear covering portions, a mask member comprising a plurality of horizontally spaced ribs for substantially covering the face opening, means pivotally connecting the helmet member and mask member, the top rib of said mask member curved outwardly into engagement with the front edge of the said helmet member, when said mask member is tilted to its extreme upward position, said rib and said edge being on the same arc, having at its center the pivot chin strap means having each end portion provided with snap fastener elements for coacting with the first mentioned snap fastener elements and flexible means connecting the mask member and chin strap means.

2. The combination according to claim 1 and wherein one of the members has a groove receiving the coacting edge of the other member.

3. The combination according to claim 1 and wherein I the mask member has an intermediate grilled part.

4. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said ear covering portion of said helmet member has an edge, and wherein said mask member has a groove opposite to each said edge of said ear covering portion mating therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,105,607 McMillan Jan. 18, 1938 2,351,752 Fay June 20, 1944 2,611,897 Adams Sept. 30, 1952 2,785,405 Snyder Mar. 19, 1957 2,790,175 SOWIe Apr. 30, 1957 

